Tongue protector



April 25, 1939. A. s. HARTANOV TONGUE PROTECTOR Filed March 31, 1957 Andre W ,5". 1? aria 220 v INVENTOR ATTORNEY A r TE 5 T 9% Ci @HCLH Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TONGUE PROTECTOR Application March 31, 1937, Serial No. 134,170

6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for protecting the tongue of a carcass during processing.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for protecting a hog tongue from the teeth and from the dehairing beaters during dehairing of the carcass.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow:

Figure 1 is a sketch of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of a tongue in position.

Figure 4 is an end view of the device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side view of the head of a hog carcass showing the manner of securing the device within the mouth of the carcass.

Figure 6 is a top view of the lower jaw of a hog 2 carcass showing the manner of securing the device within the mouth of a hog carcass.

The device of the present invention is designed to protect the tongue of an animal carcass, for example a hog, passing through a dehairing machine, by providing a covering for the tongue on the top, sides, and tip, and in addition providing a covering for the teeth in that section of the lower jaw which is most apt to damage the tongue.

The protector portion of the device comprises 30 tongue plate I extending on each side to form teeth plates 2, tongue tip plate 3 bent to form under-guard 4, and side plates 5. The tip of tongue 6 is efiectively guarded by the protector portion of the device as shown in Figure 3. 3 The protector is held in the mouth by means of closed loop 1 comprising sides 8 and 9, apex l0, and shoulders II and I2 merging respectively into resilient side arms [3 and I4 rigidly affixed to the protector at l5 and I6. The loop 1 holds the device in the throat cavity of the cranium in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6, and the position in the mouth is assured by the pressure exerted by the teeth of the upper jaw upon the plate cover. It will be readily appreciated that the side plates effectively protect the tongue from the teeth of the lower jaw and that the extension 2 of top plate I effectively prevent damage to the tongue by the teeth of the upper jaw.

It will be understood that any suitable means 5 may be employed for holding the device in the head of the carcass and that any suitable material may be employed in the manufacture of the protector. In the example shown in the drawings, sheet metal is used. However, if desired, plastic compound or rubber molded to the desired shape may be used.

The device of the present invention does not encircle or envelop the tongue but does provide protective means for preventing damage to the tongue tip by the teeth during processing of the carcass.

I claim:

1. A tongue protector comprising a guard means interposed between the teeth and the 20 tongue tip provided with holding means adapted to be secured within the cranial cavity.

2. A tongue protector comprising a top tongue plate, a tongue tip plate, teeth plates, and means for holding the device in a carcass head.

3. In a tongue protector, means for protecting the tongue tip from the teeth, said means includ ing a top tongue plate, a tongue tip plate, an under-guard, side plates, and teeth plates.

4. In a tongue protector, guard means for the extreme tip of the tongue including plates interposed between the tongue tip and the teeth provided with holding means adapted to be secured within the cranial cavity.

5. A tongue protector including means for protecting the tip and sides of the tongue and teeth plates adapted to prevent damage to the tongue by the teeth in the upper part of a carcass head.

6. In a tongue protector including guard means for the extreme tip of the tongue, extending teeth plates adapted to guard the tongue against the teeth of the upper jaw of a carcass head.

ANDREW S. HARTANOV. 

